Charles david bonsai



C. D. BONSALL.

CAR ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.20, I9I9.

1,330,975. Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Il. I

la MII" UNITED STATES PATENT QEFICE.

CHARLES DAVID BONSALL, OF YARNASSUS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'I'O WALTER P. MURPHY, 0F NEW' YORK, N. Y.

CAB-ROOF.

Application led August 20, 1919.

To all whom 'it may concern:

. Be it known that I, CHARLES DAVID BON- sALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Parnassus, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Roofs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car roofs of the rigid all-metal type wherein roof sheets ofstiften the roof against vertical loads..

Another object is to enable the sheets to be pressed from metal plates of rectangular shape and thus eliminate the waste and eX- pense of cutting the sheet blank to a special shape before pressing, and to enable the surplus metal gained by the gradually reduced height of the seam flanges from the ridge toward the eaves to be used to form the seam flanges into a suitable section at the eaves to withstand the horizontal stresses in the region of the side plates. Another object is to produce a strong and durable light weight. roof of simple construction which can be easily assembled and cheaply manu factured.

The invention consists principally in means for stifening the roof against vertical loading at the ridge. The invention further consists in the form of seam flanges for the roof sheets and in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a car embodying my invention, parts being shown broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the roof, 'the section being taken adjacent to one of the seams on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1'?, 1920.

Serial No. 318,648.

roof, the section being taken through one of the seams on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. et is an enlarged transverse section taken through the car at the eaves, the section being taken along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the seam near the eaves on the line 5-5 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the roofat the ridge, the section being taken crosswise of a seam and running board saddle on the line (5 6 in Fig. 1.

The construction shown in the drawings has Z-bar side plates 7 arranged with their webs horizontal and with their inner fianges projecting upwardly. The metal roof sheets 8 are arranged crosswise of the car, extending from eaves to eaves and having flanges 9 at the eaves ends which are turned down over the upwardly projecting inner flanges of the Z-bar side plates 7.

The roof' sheets 8, which are pressed from a single piece of metal of uniform width slope upwardly from the eaves toward the ridge and have their side marginal portions formed into raised ribs A. Each of these ribs comprises a flange or web portion 11 which extends upwardly from the body of the sheet and has at the top thereof a flat flange or portion 10 that extends outwardly or laterally with relation to the body of the sheet. The top 10 of the rib is thus offset above the plane of the body of the sheet. The web portions 11 of the side marginal flanges of the roof sheets gradually diminish in height from the ridge toward the eaves and the surplus metal gained thereby, by reason of the uniform width of the sheet blank, is turned down over the outside edge of the horizontal flange portion 10 of the rib in the form of a flange 12. This causes the ribs which are of inverted L-shaped sec tion at the ridge to gradually assume a channel-shaped section on opposite sides of the ridge. As the web portions of the ribs diminish in depth from the ridge toward the eaves of the sheet, there is a corresponding increase in the depth of the flange 12 of the sheet flanges from the ridge toward the eaves. At the eaves end of the sheet, the ribs merge abruptly into the plane of the body of' the sheet and at a point adjacent to the eaves, the flanges 12 of the ribs reach the plane of the sheet and are turned outwardly in the plane of the sheet in the form of flanges 13.

The ribs at the side margins of the sheet are lapped and their raised horizontal flanged portions 10 are secured together by means of rivets 14, forming seams of inverted channel section which function as Carli-nes and whose height decreases from the ridge toward the eaves. rlhe downwardly projecting flanges 12 of the lapped ribs are disposed alongside of their web portions 11 of the ribs and thus form seams which are of double thickness at their sides as well as at their tops.

A supporting member 15 of angular section is located under the eaves ends of the sheets below the lapped ribs of the sheets and extends -aY short distance beyond the seam on each side thereof. The vertical flange of each of these angular supporting members 15 :is located outside of the upwardly projecting flange of the Z-bar side plate 7 and issecured thereto, together with vthe downwardly extending lapped flanges i) of the roof sheets by means of rivets 16. These rivets also secure the flanges 9 of the roof sheets to the upwardly projecting flange ofthe Z-bar side plates 7 between seams. The other flange of the angular su"L porting member projects inwardly below the lapped seam flanges of the roof sheets and parallel with the body portions of the sheets over the upper edge of the upwardly projecting flange of the Z-bar side plates. The body portions of the sheets on both sides of the seam, together withthe flanges 13 which underlap the body portions of the sheets on one side ofthe seam and overlap the body portions of the sheet on the opposite side of the seam, are secured to the inwardly proj ecting flange of the supporting angle 15 by means of rivets 17.

The ruiming boards 18 extend longitudinally of ,the roof and are securely bolted to the kupwardly offset horizontal flanges of metal running board saddles 19 Awhich are arranged crosswise on the roof. The lower flanges of the running board saddles are inclined on opposite sides of the ridge to correspond to the pitch of the roof seam. The running board saddles rest on and are secured to the horizontal flange portions 10 of the lapped ribs by means of the rivets 1li which also secure the lapped ribs together.

The roof seams are provided on their under sides at the ridge with means for brac ing and stiffening the seams against vertical loads. This bracing or sti'lfening member comprises a horizontal tie member in the form of a strip of metal or narrow plat 20, preferably of flat section, located under each seam and extending crosswise of the roof on opposite sides of the ridge. rlhe opposite ends of the vplate extend into the seam and are secured to the under side of the lapped horizontal portions 10 of the channel or l shaped ribs by means of rivets 14 which also secure the lapped ribs together. At the ridge, a strut 21 is arranged between the top face of each tie plate :2O and the underlapping flange portions 10 of the lapped ribs. This strut is preferably shown in the form of a U-shaped member of proper width to enter the seam and has its bottoni portion riveted or otherwise secured to the tie niember 20. lit the top, the side flanges of the U-shaped strut 2l are bent outwardly and secured to the horizontal flange portions IO of the .lapped ribs A by means of rivets 1l which secure the lapped rib and bottom flange of the running board saddle 19. rlChese tie and strut members coperatiiui` with the roof sheets act after the manner of a truss and greatly strengthen and stiften the seams.

'lhe ribs A at the side margin of the roof nests extend upwardly and outwardly at ne ridge forming a section of substantially inverted L-shapc and are of greater height at the ridge than at the eaves. fis the height of the rib is gradually reduced on opposite sides of the ridge, the ribs gradually change into an inif'erted channel sec tion, the outer flanges of which are bent outward upon reaching the plane of the sheets. rEhis arrangement results in a seam construction which gradually changes from incre overlapping L-shaped flanges of deep section at the ridge, adapted to withstand the vertical roof load, to shallow interlocking inverted channel-shaped sections near the eaves adapted to withstand the horizontal stresses.

rlhe tie and strut members, which together with the roof seams form trusses, are not restricted to the particular form of roof seam shown, and also the roof shown can be used without the truss members, said members being used for obtaining :ulditional strength in the sean'i whenever it is thought advisable.

llVhat I claim is:

1. A car roof comprising a plurality of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to aves and connected along their side margins by seams, and tension members disposed crosswise of the ear at the ridge and having their opposite ends secured to the underside of the sheets on opposite sides of the ridge.

2. A car roofrcomprising a plurality olf metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves and connected along their side niarging by seams, tension members arranged beneath the ridge portions of the sheets and having their opposite ends secured to the under side of the sheets on opposite sides of Jdie ridge, and strut members arranged between the roof sheets and the tension members.

3. A car roof comprising metal roof sheets extending a plurality of from caves to eaves and connected along their side margins by seams, tension members comprising plates of flat section arranged beneath the sheets and extending-crosswise of the car at the ridge, said tension members having their opposite ends secured to the under Side of the sheets on opposite sides of the ridge, and strut members comprising vertically arranged plates secured to the respective roof sheets and to the tension members.

4i. A car roof comprising a plurality of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves and connected along their side margins by, seams, tension members comprising plates of flat section arranged beneath the sheets and disposed crosswise of the car, said tension members having their opposite ends secured to the under side of the sheets on opposite sides of the ridge, and strut members arranged between the roof sheets and the tension members, said strut members comprising U-shaped plates flanged outwardy at their tops and secured to the under side of the roof sheets and having their bottom portions secured to the tension menibers.

5. A cai roof comprising` a. plurality of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves and connected along their side margins by seams, and tension members a1rranged crosswise of the car beneath the seam at the ridge, said tension members having their opposite ends secured to the roof sheets beneath the seams on opposite sides of the ridge.

6. A car roof comprising a plurality of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves and connected along their side inargins by seams, tension members arranged crosswise of the car beneath the seams at the ridge, said tension members having their opposite ends secured to the roof sheets beneath the seams on opposite sides of the ridge, and strut members arrangedbetween the under side of the roof and the tension members, said strut members being secured to said roof sheets and said tension members.

7. A car roof comprising a series of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves, the side margins of the respective sheets being lapped to form hollow seams, and tension members arranged crosswise of the car beneath each of said hollov7 seams at the ridge, said tension members having their opposite ends secured to the undersides of the seam on opposite sides of the ridge.

8. A car roof comprising a series of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves, the side margins of the respective sheets being lapped to form hollow seams, tension members arranged crosswise of the car beneath each of said hollow seams at the ridge, said tension members having their opposite ends secured to the underside of the seam on opposite sides of the ridge, and strut members arranged between the under surface of said hollow seams and the upper surfaces of said tension members.

9. A car roof comprising a plurality of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves and rigidly secured to the side walls of the car, said roof sheets having raised side margins which yare rigidly secured together to form upstanding hollow seams, tension members comprising narrow plates arranged crosswise of the car and beneath said seams at the ridge, said tension members having their opposite ends extending into and secured to the under sides of said hollow seams, and strut members located between the under sides of the seams and the upper surfaces of the tension members, said strut members comprising U-shaped metal straps having their upper ends secured to the under sides of the seams and having their lower ends resting on and secured to said tension. mem'bers.

10. A car roof comprising a series of rigid load sustaining roof sheets extending from side to side of the car and having their side marginal portions. formed into seam flanges which are of substantially inverted channel section near the eaves of the car gradually changing into a substantially inverted L- shaped section at the ridge of the car whereby said flanges have a flat portion olfset above the general level of the sheets, said seam flanges lapping and riveted together throughout their length and interlocking except near the ridge. i

1l. A car roof comprising a series of load sustaining roof sheets extending from side toside of the car and being rigidly secured thereto, said roof sheets having their side marginal portions formed intov raised ribs which are overlapped and secured together to form seams, a rib comprising a web portion extending upwardly from the body of the sheet and having at the top thereof a laterally extending flange portion offset above the plane of the body of the sheet and the upwardly extending web portion of said rib decreasingin depth from the ridge toward the eaves, the laterally extending flange portion of the lapped rib having flanges depending from the outer edge thereof on opposite sides of the ridge whose depth increases from the ridge toward the eaves to the plane of the body of the sheet where it terminates in the form of a horizontal flange.

l2. A car roof comprising a series of rigid load sustaining roof sheets extending from side to side of the car and being rigidly secured thereto, said roof sheets having side marginal flanges overlapped and riveted together to form rigid seams of inverted channel-shaped sections of greater height at the ridge than at the eaves, said seam flanges being flanged 4upwardly and outwardly with thereof on opposite sides of the ridge whose depth increases from Vthe ridge toward the eaves tol the` plane of the body of the sheet where it terminates the form of the horizontal-flange, a tension member arranged crosswise of the seams lat the ridge, the opposite ends of wsaid tension members being secured to said seam flanges on opposite sides of the ridge, and a strut member located between the under side of said roof sheets and the upper side of said tension members, whereby the seams, tension members and struts constitute trusses.

13. A roof sheet for a car roof, said roof sheet being adapted to extend from eaves to eaves of the car and `having flanges along the side margins adapted to interlock with the flanges of similar sheets to form seams, said seam flanges being of substantially inverted L-shaped section at the ridge and gradually changingto flanges of'substantially inverted channeleshaped section at the eaves.

14. A roof sheet for a car roof, saidroof sheet having down turned eaves flanges for rigidly securing the ends of the sheets to the -car and having a flange along each of its side margins adapted to cooperate with the flanges of a similar sheet to form a seam, said ,seam flanges being of substantially inverted L-shaped section at the ridge and graduallychanging to flanges of substantially inverted channel-shaped section at the eaves whose outer flanges increase in depth from the ridge toward the eaves ends of the sheet where they terminate in the form of 40 Y outwardly projecting horizontal flanges.

15. A roof sheet for a car roof, said roof sheet being made from a sheet of metal of uniform width, said roof sheet having its side marginal portions formed into raised ribs adapted to interlock with the ribs of ysimilar sheets to form seams, a rib comprising a web portion extending upwardly from`the body of the sheet and having at the top thereof an outwardly extending flat flange portion ofi'- set above the plane of the body ofthe sheet andthe upwardly extending web portion of said rib decreasing in depth from the ridge portion of the sheet toward the eaves, 'the surplus metal gained thereby being turned down over the outer margin of the outwardly extending flangeportion to ygive the rib inverted channel shaped ends.

16. A roofsheet for a car roof, said roof sheet being made from a sheet of metal of uniform width, said roof sheet having its side Vmarginal portions formed into raised ribs-adapted to interlock with the ribs of similar sheets 'to form seams, a rib comprising awebportion extending upwardly from the body of the sheet and having at the top thereof an outwardly extending flat flange portion offset above the plane of the body of' the sheet and the upwardly extending web portion of said rib decreasing in depth from the ridge portion of the sheet toward the eaves, the surplus metal gained thereby being turned down over the outer margin of the outwardly extending flange portion to .give the rib inverted channel shaped ends,

the turned down portion at the outer inargin of the rib increasing in depth from the ridge toward the eaves and being turned outwardly upon reaching the plane of the body of the sheet in the form of' a horizontal flange.

17. A car roof comprising a series of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves, the side margins of the respective sheets having seam flanges which are lapped to form hollow seams of substantially inverted channel section, the tops of said seams being of double thickness throughout the entire length thereof and `the sides of said seams gradually changingfrom a single thickness of metal at the ridge into a double thickness of metal near the eaves.

18. A car roof comprising a series of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves, the side margins of the respective sheets having seam flanges which are lapped to form seams of substantially inverted channel section, said seams being of greater height at the ridge than at the eaves and having fiat top and side walls, the tops of said seams being of double thickness throughout the entire length thereof and the sides of said seams gradually changing from a single thickness of metal at the ridge into a double thickness of metal near the eaves.

19. A car roof comprising a series of metal roof sheets extending from eaves to eaves, the side margins of the respective sheets having seam flanges which are lapped to form seams of substantially inverted channel section, said seams being of greater height at the ridge than at the eaves and having at top and side walls, the tops of said seams being of double thickness throughout the entire length thereof and the sides of said seams gradually changing from a single thickness of metal at the ridge into a double thickness of metal near the eaves, the free marginal portion of the upperu'iost seam flange of one sheet being turned outwardly near the eaves over the body portion of the adjacent sheet in the form of a hori- Zontal flange, and the free marginal portion of the lowermost seam flange being turned outwardly near the eaves beneath the body portion of the other sheet in the form of an oppositely extending horizontal flange.

Signed at Parnassus, Pennsylvania, this 15th day of Aug. 1919.

CHARLES DAVID BONSALL. 

